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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN HONOR OF ANGELA GARVIN
______
HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 25, 2019
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I, along with
Representative Ocasio Cortez, rise to recognize Angela Garvin, who
received a women's history month award from us and from Assemblywoman
Aravella Simotas at a ceremony in Queens on March 22nd. Ms. Garvin, who
is now 12 years old, is being celebrated for her innovative proposal to
develop rain gardens as part of the renovation of Astoria Park. These
gardens will improve sustainability and make good use of stormwater.
Although Angela Garvin was just 10 years old when she developed her
plan, her idea attracted the attention of New York City Parks
Commissioner Mitchell Silver, who decided to incorporate it into the
design for Astoria Park, which is in the process of being renovated as
part of the Anchor Parks initiative. Commissioner Silver said that he
was ``blown away by what she wrote about the importance of our future,
about sustainability and how we have to do the right thing here in
Astoria Park.'' The 60 acre park was selected to receive $30 million of
funding for major capital improvements. Ms. Garvin's rain gardens will
be part of phase 1 of the renovation plan, which calls for the
reconstruction of 12 acres of the park, including its track and field
facilities and improvements in the surrounding area, including new
seating areas, an adult fitness area, pathway realignments, bleachers
and plantings. The plan includes the development of site drainage and
grading improvements, including Ms. Garvin's rain gardens to collect
and treat stormwater, as well as a detention system under the synthetic
turf field to reduce discharge into the East River.
Rain gardens are low-impact, sustainable landscaping that are
designed to mitigate the effects of rainfall on impermeable surfaces.
The gardens slow the flow of stormwater with plants that can absorb
excess nutrients and filter pollutants.
Since she was very young, Ms. Garvin has wanted to improve the
facilities in her community. When she heard that Astoria Park would be
renovated, she became passionate about the idea of incorporating
sustainability into the plans for the park. She began attending
meetings with her grandmother, Mary Baker.
The oldest of three daughters, Ms. Garvin is a 4th generation native
of Astoria who attended PS 122 from kindergarten to 5th grade, just as
her mother, grandmother and great-grandfather did before her. She now
attends The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine in Manhattan for
middle school.
Madam Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in celebrating the
creativity and vision of Angela Garvin who persuaded the Parks
Department to use a sustainable design in its reimagining of Astoria
Park. Her forward thinking will benefit generations of New Yorkers and
can be implemented at parks around the city.
____________________